United Nations,Ā Sept 23:
US and Iranian officials held a three-hour meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in a possible opening for diplomacy as the conflict between the two countries approaches its seventh month.
US President Donald Trump described the meeting as positive and said reaching an agreement would be in Iranās interest. Iranian officials, meanwhile, conveyed conditions for reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.
Tehran reportedly sought the lifting of the naval blockade, release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the war across all āresistanceā fronts. Iran has also indicated that it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within seven days if its demands are met.
The meeting comes amid sharp differences over Iranās nuclear programme, with Trump insisting that Tehran must not acquire a nuclear weapon. While both sides have signalled an openness to diplomacy, there was no immediate indication of a breakthrough or agreement.